The Second Commandment - God Doesn't Fit Your Image

Exodus 20:5 - "You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them."

Pagan Idolatry In The Name of "Multiculturalism"

At first glance, the second commandment is very straightforward. There can be no trace of idolatry, period. Americans may call idolatry "religious diversity", "multiculturalism", or "pluralism"; but God calls it wickedness. Whether it's one of the hundreds of Hindu gods, a Buddha statue, or a crucifix - humanity has no business bowing down or praying to a statue.

Genesis 1:27 tells us that we were made in God's image. Knowing this, how silly is it when a man that is created in God's own image makes his own carved image and worships it?

God actually makes fun of this kind of behavior in Isaiah 44. Listen to His mockery in verses 14-18:

"He cuts down cedars; he selects the cypress and the oak; he plants the pine in the forest to be nourished by the rain.

Then he uses part of the wood to make a fire. With it he warms himself and bakes his bread.
Then - yes, it's true - he takes the rest of it and makes himself a god to worship!
He makes an idol and bows down in front of it!
He burns part of the tree to roast his meat and to keep himself warm. He says 'Ah, that fire feels good.'
Then he takes what's left and makes his god: a carved idol!
He falls down in front of it, worshiping and praying to it.
'Rescue me!' he says, 'You are my god!'
Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think."

Can you hear God's frustration here. "That tree couldn't save itself from being cut down and chopped apart. That wood couldn't save itself from the fire. But you're going to pray to it and ask it to save you?"

No matter what the culture, no matter what the religion - God hates idolatry!

Church Idolatry In The Name Of "Tradition"

Most believers would agree with our first point. They would never allow an idol in their home! In fact, many church-goers even go to the extreme of avoiding Chinese restaurants so they wouldn't have to see a statue of Buddha! You'd think that the church would have no problems obeying the second commandment...

...but you'd be wrong.

The second commandment isn't only referring to pagan idolatry. It was intended to apply to the worship of God Himself as well. Listen to what God said in Deuteronomy 4:15-16.
"Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure..."

Did you see that? The reason God didn't appear in a physical shape on Mt. Sinai was because He knew that if He did, Israel would make copies of that image to worship. That's not hard to imagine at all...can you see it? Can you see this group of people thinking, "This is what He looked like when He talked with us." Can you imagine the statues that would be made and called "Yahweh"?

God made sure that the Israelites would never be able to reduce Him to a man-made object. This is why He appeared to them like a smoke, a fire, and a cloud. These are things you can't easily duplicate, and that's an important point: God's glory can never be duplicated by human effort.

We can't hold onto our denominational by-laws, our church programs, our schedules, and our church-growth plans - and then completely ignore what God says. When we religiously follow our own ways of approaching God - while ignoring what God says in His Word - this becomes idolatry! We've taken our "image" of what church should be like (feeding the poor, lively music, inspirational message, that good 'feeling' you get) and make it into "God".

Carving God Down To Size

Have you ever noticed that, every time God speaks of idols, He calls them "carved images"? This isn't just semantics. I believe this is a very real illustration of what God's people do to Him when we start trying to worship Him in our own way, and to understand Him without His Word. We begin to take His magnificence and glory, and whittle away at it until we get something that we like.

Have you ever heard "Christians" say things like:

"God is love...and He accepts people no matter what!"

"That's Old Testament, God's not like that anymore."

"I know God wants whatever makes me happy."

"That verse sounds harsh. My God would never say that."

I've got news for you: If "your god" wouldn't says something that God clearly said, then "your god" is a carved image. You started with the incredible glory of God's nature, and you tore into it and carved it into something you preferred.

Jesus is just as offended at this as He is when a polytheist sacrifices to Zeus. Listen to what He has to say about all our man-made rituals and programs: "For laying aside the commandments of God, you hold the tradition of men...He said to them 'All to well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition." (Mark 7:8-9)

So you have two options for worship:

One - you can hold on to the idolatry of denominational-ism and church tradition. Just know, if this is how you proceed, you've essentially carved God up to fit your own image.

Two - You can let go of empty traditions and meaningless worship and embrace the true glory of the Creator!

But you can't do both. True worship of God cannot just be "inspirational" - it must be Biblical.